Indigenous women

Why a program of empowerment and promotion of rights for indigenous women?

As an organization which works to include women, AZUR Development works in Bouenza as well as Lékoumou counties in Congo to identify problems encountered by women there, including indigenous women. These organizations have decided to work to respond to the women’s needs. We would like the pygmy women to speak for themselves and for their voices to be heard.

Promoting the independence of indigenous women is essential which is why AZUR Developement and the Association of Indigenous People of Congo (Association des Peuples Autochtones) have decided to work together.

This program of empowerment and promotion of rights for indigenous women will complement other programs currently promoting leadership, entrepreneurship, access to education

The difficult situation facing indigenous women

Action taken thus far among the pygmy communities to improve women’s lives has been insufficient; the indigenous and pygmy women’s situation remains poor.

Lack of knowledge of Human and Women’s Rights

Pygmy women are not fully aware of their rights. They are still being used as cheap labour by the Bantous ethnic group who make-up the majority of the Congolese population.

Absence of sustainable Income-generating Activity

Congolese pygmy women live in extreme poverty. They survive on scavenged, wild fruits and vegetables and the hunting done by their husbands , as many don’t have land to farm.

Lack of Access to Health Care

Pygmy women receive very little health care support from the majority Bantous community in Congo . Sanitation and healthy habits are largely unknown to the women, as are measures to prevent HIV/ AIDS, which remain insufficient in pygmy communities. Instead of conventional medicine, pygmy women depend on traditional or plant medicine.

Lack of Access to Education

The majority of pygmy women are illiterate. Although Congo ’s literacy rate in general has risen, very few of the pygmies’ children are able to attend school. It is necessary to develop educational programs aimed at encouraging pygmy children to attend school.

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